Governor appoints former lawmaker to judge post

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Gov. Jerry Brown has appointed a former Democratic state lawmaker to a judgeship in Sacramento County after she decided against seeking re-election amid a divorce and financial troubles.

The governor announced Thursday the appointment of former Assemblywoman Alyson Huber, who represented Sacramento suburbs in the Legislature.

Huber, who is 40, worked in two law firms as a business litigator before serving two terms in the Assembly. She opted not to run for a third and final term this year after newly drawn political boundaries shifted her district in favor of Republicans.

She also has been wrestling with a divorce and default on a $1 million mortgage for a home in the El Dorado Hills.

Huber will make about $179,000 annually as a judge compared to her legislative salary of $95,000.